Police shoot man, believing he had knife

Suffolk County police investigate a shooting by an officer near the Babylon Park Center in Deer Park Wednesday. Police responded to a call of a domestic dispute and a man, whose father told police had psychological issues, was shot after a after a brief chase, police said. (Oct. 9, 2013) Photo Credit: Jim Staubitser

Officers responded to a dispute between the Bohlsen and his father Edward Bohlsen, 79, at their Babylon Park Center apartment about 10:30 a.m. When police officers arrived, the son threatened them with a knife, said Det. Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick, head of the homicide squad.

"He refuses to drop the knife," Fitzpatrick said.

The son ran onto the property of a neighboring trucking company, where pursuing officers lost sight of him, he said.

Unbeknownst to the officers, the man dropped the knife on the trucking company property, Fitzpatrick said. A civilian who saw this retrieved the knife and brought it to police later, he said.

"At that point, he had no weapon," Fitzpatrick said. "The officers thought he had one."

The man's father told police his son had psychological issues, had stopped taking his medication five years ago and had threatened to cut off his father's head, Fitzpatrick said.

Police arrested Bohlsen on two outstanding warrants and additional charges are pending.

A man who said he was the father told a reporter later his son is in intensive care at Good Samaritan Hospital. He declined further comment, saying, "I have enough troubles," before closing the door of the apartment.